Re: Newbie - Do's & Don't's for recovery???

[Guest guest]

Jimshu,Statin drugs can be degenerative to muscle and nerve tissue. I wish there was a magic bullet for recovery, but there isn't. My recommendations would be to exert yourself only within your limitations so as not to do more damage. If you haven't already done so, you may want to check your steroid homone levels to make sure they haven't been trashed. (Testosterone is made from Cholesterol) Muscle biopsy is the sure fire way to know what happened to your muscles. Alternate email: marooned@...Bobby- Your Caribbean Travel

Plannerwww.pinkystravel.com International Destinations, Resorts, Vacation PackagesPhilippine Destination Specialist To: TakingLipitorAndHateIt Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2012 1:18 PM Subject: Newbie - Do's & Don't's for recovery???

Newbie and 1st post here. I've spent a few hours browsing the forum.

I've been on statins for almost three years. Moved from 40mg Pravastatin all the way up to 80mg of Simvastatin, then back down to 40mg of Simvastatin about a a year ago due to good results. I had an initial negative reaction, started on Q-10 supplements, and then had no bad side effects.

Last August I retired and began regular resistance training. I really got into it, working out around 5 days/week, and increasing the resistance as I steadily got stronger. After a month, I developed a neck muscle pain. Stopped any exercises in that area and just tried to stretch it out. Discussed it with my doctor who suggested some neck exercises.

Within another month, I also noticed a pain in my thigh and then in my right bicep/tricep & shoulder. These were strange pains; a burning sensation and not a soreness. Completely quick exercising. Started up again after some rest, but the pain made me stop again.

Mid-December I stopped all resistance training. On Dec. 18, I dropped my dose of Simvastatin to 20mg. No improvement. On January 1, 2012, I quit taking Simvastatin. No improvement.

I've tried just gently stretching these areas out, but it really flares up the pain. I no longer can exercise, except walking. My right arm is bad enough that just lifting a coffee cup at an odd angle really hurts.

My question: How should I approach recovering? Treat my muscles like a broken bone and minimize using them? Or work my way through the pain as you would normally do with a soreness?

Heck of a situation to get into in a few short months....... Went from strong and fit to weak and lame.

Thanks for any replies!

[Guest guest]

From what I can see here, your muscles have been damaged, just like mine were after taking 80 mg. of lipitor for only 4 months. I can no longer work with any weights or over-exert any of my muscles. I tried to build them back up last winter at our local "Y" and when I had my bloodwork done in the spring, discovered that my CPK numbers went up again due to muscle damage. Right now I am just walking briskly 45 minutes most days of the week and hoping that is not doing any more damage. When I do overexert my thigh muscles, they start to burn, just like you described, and will continue to burn for several days so I try not to continue if I feel any pain. It has been over 4 years that I have been off of the lipitor, but there is no improvement in my numbers. I am convinced that this

is permanant damage that was done. During that time I have taken all the supplements, vitamins, etc. that Spacedoc recommends, but, nothing seems to help. I only hope I can at least keep the muscles that I have! I think we'd all like to hear that there is a cure for this damage, but I'm afraid noone has found one as of yet! Good luck to you. My advice is to keep moving, don't use weights, and don't strain any muscles so as to cause any more damage. I keep hoping that one day someone will come up with some answers! Adele W. To: TakingLipitorAndHateIt Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2012 2:18 PM Subject: Newbie - Do's & Don't's for recovery???

Newbie and 1st post here. I've spent a few hours browsing the forum.

I've been on statins for almost three years. Moved from 40mg Pravastatin all the way up to 80mg of Simvastatin, then back down to 40mg of Simvastatin about a a year ago due to good results. I had an initial negative reaction, started on Q-10 supplements, and then had no bad side effects.

Last August I retired and began regular resistance training. I really got into it, working out around 5 days/week, and increasing the resistance as I steadily got stronger. After a month, I developed a neck muscle pain. Stopped any exercises in that area and just tried to stretch it out. Discussed it with my doctor who suggested some neck exercises.

Within another month, I also noticed a pain in my thigh and then in my right bicep/tricep & shoulder. These were strange pains; a burning sensation and not a soreness. Completely quick exercising. Started up again after some rest, but the pain made me stop again.

Mid-December I stopped all resistance training. On Dec. 18, I dropped my dose of Simvastatin to 20mg. No improvement. On January 1, 2012, I quit taking Simvastatin. No improvement.

I've tried just gently stretching these areas out, but it really flares up the pain. I no longer can exercise, except walking. My right arm is bad enough that just lifting a coffee cup at an odd angle really hurts.

My question: How should I approach recovering? Treat my muscles like a broken bone and minimize using them? Or work my way through the pain as you would normally do with a soreness?

Heck of a situation to get into in a few short months....... Went from strong and fit to weak and lame.

Thanks for any replies!

[Guest guest]

Jim, I am a 57 yo female and back when I was 45 I was first put on 10mg of

Zocor. I am a type 2 diabetic and was told that this is an increased risk

factor for me. It was also at this time that I started a part-time job in a

grocery store bakery after taking time off from working full-time until my son

went to school. There was much repetitive use of my hands and arms, lifting,

etc.

Within 3 months, I started having shoulder pains, and within another year, I had

what was diagnosed as tennis elbow, I don't play tennis.

I was told these were from my job, and I was prescribed Physical Therapy 3 times

a week for 8 weeks, and the first of many anti-imflammatories and pain

medications. I also quit the job.

I went through the P/T for 4 different sessions and 4 different areas,

shoulders, neck, elbow. I also had so much pain when I lifted a cup of coffee,

which I thought was strange. I always got worse when I was given strengthening

and resistance exercises. I developed bicepital tendonitis in both arms. I

didn't have this before the P/T. It was the type of burning pain that I got

when I first joined a gym in my 30's, you know the soreness. But, the soreness

lasted for 3 more months after I was finished with the P/T. I also had trouble

walking any great distance, my thighs would get sore. Walking was my exercise of

choice as a diabetic. A rheumatologist told me that I should expect aches and

pains now that I was 50, I took the comment as an insult. I felt like I was 85

instead of 50.

I finally asked my doc (my primary who prescribed the Zocor) if the Zocor could

be the source of the " unexplained muscle pain and weakness " (catch phrase from

the Lipitor commercials) since I was no longer working and was not doing P/T.

He said maybe it was, and I could stop the Zocor. Within 3 days, the soreness I

had for 3 months started to go away. I still develop pain in the problem areas

if I do too much of something.

I don't think I will ever be the same. Back when I was in the worst of this, I

just had to stop most of my physical activity. I started taking Co-Q10 when I

found out that statins cause a deficiency of Co-Q10 as a side effect. Time has

helped some, also.

Connie

>

> Jimshu,

>

> Statin drugs can be degenerative to muscle and nerve tissue. I wish there was

a magic bullet for recovery, but there isn't. My recommendations would be to

exert yourself only within your limitations so as not to do more damage. 

> If you haven't already done so, you may want to check your steroid homone

levels to make sure they haven't been trashed. (Testosterone is made from

Cholesterol) Muscle biopsy is the sure fire way to know what happened to your

muscles.  

>  

> Alternate email:   marooned@...

> Bobby- Your Caribbean Travel Planner

> www.pinkystravel.com    International Destinations, Resorts, Vacation

Packages

> Philippine Destination Specialist

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: TakingLipitorAndHateIt

> Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2012 1:18 PM

> Subject: Newbie - Do's & Don't's for recovery???

>

>

>  

> Newbie and 1st post here. I've spent a few hours browsing the forum.

>

> I've been on statins for almost three years. Moved from 40mg Pravastatin all

the way up to 80mg of Simvastatin, then back down to 40mg of Simvastatin about a

a year ago due to good results. I had an initial negative reaction, started on

Q-10 supplements, and then had no bad side effects.

>

> Last August I retired and began regular resistance training. I really got

into it, working out around 5 days/week, and increasing the resistance as I

steadily got stronger. After a month, I developed a neck muscle pain. Stopped

any exercises in that area and just tried to stretch it out. Discussed it with

my doctor who suggested some neck exercises.

>

> Within another month, I also noticed a pain in my thigh and then in my right

bicep/tricep & shoulder. These were strange pains; a burning sensation and not

a soreness. Completely quick exercising. Started up again after some rest, but

the pain made me stop again.

>

> Mid-December I stopped all resistance training. On Dec. 18, I dropped my dose

of Simvastatin to 20mg. No improvement. On January 1, 2012, I quit taking

Simvastatin. No improvement.

>

> I've tried just gently stretching these areas out, but it really flares up the

pain. I no longer can exercise, except walking. My right arm is bad enough

that just lifting a coffee cup at an odd angle really hurts.

>

> My question: How should I approach recovering? Treat my muscles like a broken

bone and minimize using them? Or work my way through the pain as you would

normally do with a soreness?

>

> Heck of a situation to get into in a few short months....... Went from strong

and fit to weak and lame.

>

> Thanks for any replies!

>

[Guest guest]

For whatever it's worth, it look a year after I got off of mevacor to

regain full range of motion in my arms.

Linde

Newbie - Do's & Don't's for

recovery???

 

Newbie and 1st post here. I've spent a few hours browsing the forum.

I've been on statins for almost three years. Moved from 40mg

Pravastatin all the way up to 80mg of Simvastatin, then back down to

40mg of Simvastatin about a a year ago due to good results. I had an

initial negative reaction, started on Q-10 supplements, and then had no

bad side effects.

Last August I retired and began regular resistance training. I really

got into it, working out around 5 days/week, and increasing the

resistance as I steadily got stronger. After a month, I developed a

neck muscle pain. Stopped any exercises in that area and just tried to

stretch it out. Discussed it with my doctor who suggested some neck

exercises.

Within another month, I also noticed a pain in my thigh and then in my

right bicep/tricep & shoulder. These were strange pains; a burning

sensation and not a soreness. Completely quick exercising. Started up

again after some rest, but the pain made me stop again.

Mid-December I stopped all resistance training. On Dec. 18, I dropped

my dose of Simvastatin to 20mg. No improvement. On January 1, 2012, I

quit taking Simvastatin. No improvement.

I've tried just gently stretching these areas out, but it really flares

up the pain. I no longer can exercise, except walking. My right arm is

bad enough that just lifting a coffee cup at an odd angle really hurts.

My question: How should I approach recovering? Treat my muscles like a

broken bone and minimize using them? Or work my way through the pain as

you would normally do with a soreness?

Heck of a situation to get into in a few short months....... Went from

strong and fit to weak and lame.

Thanks for any replies!

[Guest guest]

About three weeks ago after several months of ZUMBA & very gentle YOGA I started feeling pain in my shoulders. That is where the STATIN / VYTORIN pain first started several years ago. I noticed that any time I did weight bearing on my arms or lifting anything above or below my body core, that there was very severe pain. Consequently, I have been very irritable. I could not sleep (even with sleep medicine) for weeks as once again rolling over in bed or sleeping with pressure on my shoulders was unbearable. Went in for my physical and my doctor was a very good listener. But they made notes in my file that I refuse to take Statins of any kind, therefore releasing them of lawsuits. They did find that I am anaemic, low on Vitamin D and once again they had me on a Rx for Thyroid that is too low for at least 7 months. My hair changed

texture, my scalp hardened, I had great fatigue, and I was already taking Vitamin D, so why the deficiency? My hair was falling out in gobs. I have been off the Statins for years, but I maintain the damage is irreversible. I tried doses of Ibuprofen and Naproxen working up from one pill to three. Neither of these had any effect on the pain. Plus, you can hear the interior of my shoulders snapping and popping. Very limited range of motion. Lifting a magazine from mid-core two-3 inches up or down causes unimaginable pain. I cannot pull clothing off over my head. Or pulling down clothing (yes, basic toilet activities are painful to prepare for as are baths etc. Hate to be gross), but that is reality for me. It is exactly what happened to me during the Statin use. Preparing to go out just to the movies is a 2 hour ordeal. This is not me.So, luckily my yearly physical was scheduled as this discomfort and limitation was affecting me. The

doctor heard my arms snap, but never put his hands on my shoulders to feel the vibration or he could have listened to it as I moved my arm(s). It had somewhat subsided from about 10 days before. X-rays were taken. NORMAL. So I am now scheduled for the surgeon. Luckily, my Yoga instructor's daughter lives next to this wonderful surgeon, so I am not just another patient. I know he will tell me if it is ROTATOR CUFF, or something that will be helped by physical therapy. Still not 60 years old yet! Even through incredible pain and lying in bed for two days, I got up yesterday afternoon and pushed through the pain and mowed the lawn. I can do this because I push the mower directly forward from my CORE. I am athletic and can hardly let a day go by without doing something physical. Anyone else out there experience shoulder pain similar to this? It is like an ice pick going between the connections of the bones. Just now I put my left hand on my hip for a second

and it created pain. I can sit and type without pain. Oh, I can only imagine what retired athletes go through! Would love to hear comments on this! Thanks! McClureSubject: Re: Newbie - Do's & Don't's for recovery???To: "TakingLipitorAndHateIt " <TakingLipitorAndHateIt >Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 3:26 PM

From what I can see here, your muscles have been damaged, just like mine were after taking 80 mg. of lipitor for only 4 months. I can no longer work with any weights or over-exert any of my muscles. I tried to build them back up last winter at our local "Y" and when I had my bloodwork done in the spring, discovered that my CPK numbers went up again due to muscle damage. Right now I am just walking briskly 45 minutes most days of the week and hoping that is not doing any more damage. When I do overexert my thigh muscles, they start to burn, just like you described, and will continue to burn for several days so I try not to continue if I feel any pain. It has been over 4 years that I have been off of the lipitor, but there is no improvement in my numbers. I am convinced that this

is permanant damage that was done. During that time I have taken all the supplements, vitamins, etc. that Spacedoc recommends, but, nothing seems to help. I only hope I can at least keep the muscles that I have! I think we'd all like to hear that there is a cure for this damage, but I'm afraid noone has found one as of yet! Good luck to you. My advice is to keep moving, don't use weights, and don't strain any muscles so as to cause any more damage. I keep hoping that one day someone will come up with some answers! Adele W. From: jimshu1

To: TakingLipitorAndHateIt Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2012 2:18 PM Subject: Newbie - Do's & Don't's for recovery???

Newbie and 1st post here. I've spent a few hours browsing the forum.

I've been on statins for almost three years. Moved from 40mg Pravastatin all the way up to 80mg of Simvastatin, then back down to 40mg of Simvastatin about a a year ago due to good results. I had an initial negative reaction, started on Q-10 supplements, and then had no bad side effects.

Last August I retired and began regular resistance training. I really got into it, working out around 5 days/week, and increasing the resistance as I steadily got stronger. After a month, I developed a neck muscle pain. Stopped any exercises in that area and just tried to stretch it out. Discussed it with my doctor who suggested some neck exercises.

Within another month, I also noticed a pain in my thigh and then in my right bicep/tricep & shoulder. These were strange pains; a burning sensation and not a soreness. Completely quick exercising. Started up again after some rest, but the pain made me stop again.

Mid-December I stopped all resistance training. On Dec. 18, I dropped my dose of Simvastatin to 20mg. No improvement. On January 1, 2012, I quit taking Simvastatin. No improvement.

I've tried just gently stretching these areas out, but it really flares up the pain. I no longer can exercise, except walking. My right arm is bad enough that just lifting a coffee cup at an odd angle really hurts.

My question: How should I approach recovering? Treat my muscles like a broken bone and minimize using them? Or work my way through the pain as you would normally do with a soreness?

Heck of a situation to get into in a few short months....... Went from strong and fit to weak and lame.

Thanks for any replies!